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Health Dictionary

Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.

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Tonsillitis epidemiology and demographics

Introduction

Overview

Overview

The epidemiology of adenoiditis is not completely known. There is research that indicates 15-30% of sore throats in children and 5-10% sore throats in adults are bacterial adenotonsillitis. Research on Norwegian twins indicates a prevalence of approximately 11,700 per 100,000 individuals, while a study on primary school children in Turkey indicated recurrent tonsillitis prevalence of approximately 12,100 per 100,000 individuals.

Epidemiology and Demographics

Epidemiology and Demographics

Incidence

  • The incidence of tonsillitis is not completely known, research indicates that 15-30% of sore throats in children and 5-10% sore throats in adults are bacterial tonsillitis.[1][2][3]

Prevalence

  • The prevalence of tonsillitis is not completely known.
    • Research on Norwegian twins indicates recurrent tonsillitis prevalence of approximately 11,700 per 100,000 individuals.[4]
    • A study on primary school children in Turkey indicated recurrent tonsillitis prevalence of approximately 12,100 per 100,000 individuals.[5]

Case Fatality Rate

The case fatality rate of tonsillitis is unknown.

Age

  • Acute tonsillitis from S. pyogenes primarily affects children between 5 and 15 years old.[6]

Gender

  • Research on tonsillitis patients evidences that it is more common in females than males.[4][7]

Race

There is no racial predisposition to tonsillitis.

Developing and Developed Countries

There is no geographic predisposition to tonsillitis.

References

References

  1. ↑ Komaroff AL, Pass TM, Aronson MD, Ervin CT, Cretin S, Winickoff RN, Branch WT (1986). “The prediction of streptococcal pharyngitis in adults”. J Gen Intern Med. 1 (1): 1–7. PMID 3534166.
  2. ↑ Kaplan EL, Top FH, Dudding BA, Wannamaker LW (1971). “Diagnosis of streptococcal pharyngitis: differentiation of active infection from the carrier state in the symptomatic child”. J. Infect. Dis. 123 (5): 490–501. PMID 5115179.
  3. ↑ Schroeder BM (2003). “Diagnosis and management of group A streptococcal pharyngitis”. Am Fam Physician. 67 (4): 880, 883–4. PMID 12613739.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Kvestad, Ellen; Kværner, Kari Jorunn; Røysamb, Espen; Tambs, Kristian; Harris, Jennifer Ruth; Magnus, Per (2005). “Heritability of Recurrent Tonsillitis”. Archives of Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery. 131 (5): 383. doi:10.1001/archotol.131.5.383. ISSN 0886-4470.
  5. ↑ Kara CO, Ergin H, Koçak G, Kiliç I, Yurdakul M (2002). “Prevalence of tonsillar hypertrophy and associated oropharyngeal symptoms in primary school children in Denizli, Turkey”. Int. J. Pediatr. Otorhinolaryngol. 66 (2): 175–9. PMID 12393253.
  6. ↑ Sharav, Yair; Benoliel, Rafael (2008). Orofacial Pain and Headache. Elsevier. ISBN 0723434123.
  7. ↑ Thorp MA, Isaacs S, Sellars SL (2000). “Tonsillectomy and tonsillitis in Cape Town–age and sex of patients”. S Afr J Surg. 38 (3): 62–4. PMID 11392200.

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